Machine for making wire-glass.



PATENTED JUNE 20} 1905.

C. H. TONDBUR. MACHINE FORMAKING WIRE GLASS. I

APPLICATION FILED BEPT. 1, 1904.

FIBE.

INVENTOR STATES Patented June 20, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

MACHINE FOR MAKING WIRE-GLASS- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 792,803, dated June 20, 1905.

Application filed September 1, 1904. Serial No. 222,996.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CLEoN H. TONDEUR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the county of l/Vashington and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making VVire-Glass, of which improvements the following is a specification.

My invention concerns machines for making wire-glass; and it consists in the structural features which are described and claimed herein.

A machine embodying my improvements is illustrated in. the accompanying drawings,

which form part of this specification.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a view of the machine in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a view in longitudinal and vertical section of the same machine, but on a larger scale; and Fig. 3 is a view of the machine in transverse vertical section, the plane of section being indicated at III III, Fig. 2.

Parts which are repeated in the several figures bear the same reference-numerals in each case.

In the drawings the table upon which the sheets of wire-glass are formed is indicated at 1. 2 is the distributing-roll, which spreads molten glass upon the forming-table. Table and roll 1 and 2 are supported in any desired manner, and they are so arranged that the roll traverses the table from end to end in spreading the molten glass to form the sheet. As the drawings indicate, the ends of the distributing-roll are preferably provided with gear-teeth 15 and the edges of the table with corresponding racks 16 ,for controlling the relative movements of the roll and table. The construction and operation of table and roll, however, form no part of my present invention. Machines which in those respects are like the machine of the drawings are in use to-day in making wire-glass.

A guide-support is carried by the distributing-roll. It serves to hold a pair of guides in operative position, and it serves also to carry a wire-spacer. I shall describe my preferred construction.

At either end of distributing-roll 2 and extending forward along the edges of the table are plates 1. These plates are mounted to travel along the edges of the table in unison with the distributing-roll, and to this end plates A are conveniently connected with the axle of roll 2 by bearing-arms 5 and provided with rolls 6, which rest upon the table. Plates 4: are made adjustable, as indicated in the drawings, upon arms 5, that racks 16 upon the edges of the table may be replaced by other racks to vary the height of roll 2 above the forming-surface. These racks 16 may be removably secured to the table (if means of securing be desired) by screws 19; but I.pref erably secure each track at a single point in its length, for if secured at two or more points the heating incident to operation may cause the tracks to become uneven. 4 are connected by a bar 7, which serves a purpose presently to be described. It may be constructed and arranged in any desired manner. I have shown this bar as a rod connecting the two plates and extending above the surface of the forming-table and in front of the distributing-roll. Bar 7 carries guides 8. These guides extend forward from the distributing-roll above the surface of the forming-table and are adapted to limit the lateral spread of the molten glass when the sheet is being formed. These guides 8 are adjustable both laterally and longitudinally (with respect to the forming-table) upon bar 7 Thereby the machine may be adapted to making sheets of different width, and the spaces between the guides and the distributing-roll may be varied as required. I

At a suitable distance in front of the distributing-roll a spacer extends transversely above the surface of the forming-table. The spacer is mounted to travel in unison with the distributing-roll and is indirectly mounted thereon. To that end it may be suitably mounted and carried between plates 4:. The spacer consists, essentially, of a roll 3 and a shoe 11, so arranged with respect to one an other as to allow the passage of the sheet of wire fabric which is to be embedded in the finished sheet of wire-glass. The roll serves to hold the wire fabricdown to the desired distance from the table with the least amount of friction, while the shoe, located in advance The two plates of the roll and extending beneath it. takes up slack in the fabric and prevents sagging. My preferred construction is shown in the drawings. A rod 12 extends from one plate 4: to the other, being rigidly secured therein at either end. The guides 8 are perforated to permit its passage between them. On either side of the table, within and adjacent-to guides 8, two arms 17 and 18 extend downward from rod 12. These two pairs of arms are rigid with respect to rod 12 during the operation of the machine. They may conveniently be made adjustable upon rod 12 both longitudinally and pivotally, and when adjustable they may be secured in position by screw-threads and nuts, as shown in the drawings. Roll 3 is journaled in arms 17, and shoe 11 is supported upon arms 18, and the roll and shoeare so ad- .justed that the wire fabric passingover the shoe and beneath the roll is maintained in proper position above the forming surface. The height of roll 3 above the forming-surface of the table may be varied by swinging arms 17 upon rod 12 and securing them in at the desired positions, and shoe 11 is made adjustable accordingly upon arms 18, as is indicated by set-screws 9. It will be understood that when the distance between guides 8 is changed roll 3 and shoe 11, which together form the spacer, will be replaced by others of suitable width.

At the posterior edge of the table a clamp for holding the sheet of wire fabric is placed. The table may extend rearward from the forming-surface to allow the distributing-roll to be withdrawn from that surface. My preferred construction is shown in the drawings. The rearward extension of the table is a support 14:, bolted in place, and between this support and the rear edge of the table is a vertically-adjustable block 13. Support 14 and block 13 thus form the clamp for the wire fabric.

The operation of the machine will readily be understood. When a sheet of wire-glass is to be formed, distributing-roll 2 is impelled in a rearward direction (7:. 0., in direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2) until roll 2 rests upon support 14:. Racks 16 of desired height are put in place. Guides 8 are adjusted to the Width desired and the spacer inserted. The sheet of wire fabric is then introduced. It is indicated at'A in the drawings. It extends from any suitable source of supply; and is carried over shoe 11 and beneath roll 3 and thence rearwardly to the clamp at the edge of the forming-surface, in which it is secured. The block 13, roll 3, and shoe 11 are so adjusted that the sheet of wire fabric is maintained at the desired distance above the forming-surface. The sheet of wire fabric is drawn taut and maintained taut during the further operation. A supply of molten glass is teemed upon the table at its rear end and between guides 8. The distributing-roll,

with the parts which it carries, is then advanced over the forming-surface in the direction indicated by the arrow, Fig. 2. As the roll advances the molten glass passing through the wire fabric to the forming-surface is formed into a sheet about the sheet of wire fabric. the wire being so held that it occupies a fixed and predetermined position within the finished sheet. Fig. 2 shows the machine when the distributing-roll is advancing and spreading the molten glass to form the sheet. In that figure, B indicates the molten glass in advance of the distributing-roll, while a portion of the completed sheet is shown to the rear of the distributing-roll.

I claim as my invention 1. In a machine for rolling wire-glass the combination with a forming-table and a distributing-roll of a spacer comprising a roll and a shoe, substantially as described.

2. In a machine for rolling wire-glass the combination with a forming-table and a distributing-roll of a wire-spacing roll extending transversely above the table and adjustable to and from said table, and a shoe extending into operative proximity to said wire-spacing roll, substantially as described.

3. In a machine for rolling wire-glass the combination with a forming-table and a distributing-roll movable from end to end of said table, of a vertically-adjustable Wireclamp at the rear of the forming-table, and a vertically-adjustable wire-spacing roll anterior to and movable with the distributing-roll, substantially as described.

4. In a machine for making wire-glass the combination of a forming-table, a distributing-roll movable from end to end of said table, arms carried by the axle of the distributing-roll, and guides connected with said arms, substantially as described.

5. In a machine for making wire-glass, the combination of a forming-table, a distributing-roll movable from end to end above said table, arms carried by the axle of the distributing-roll, guides adjustably connected with said arms and means for varying the height of the distributing-roll above the formingtable, substantially as described.

6. In a machine for making wire-glass the combination of a forming-table, a distributing-roll movable from end to end of said table, a guide-support carried by the axle of said distributing-roll, and guides adjustable in said guide-support, substantially as described.

7. In a machine for making wire-glass the combination witha forming-table and a distributing-roll movable from end to end of said table, laterally-adjustable guides carried by said roll, and a wire-spacer carried by said roll, substantially as described.

8. In a machine for making wire-glass the combination of a forming-table, a distributing-roll movable from end to end of said table, a guide-support carried by said roll, guides adjustable in said guide-support, a Wire-spacer support carried by said guide-support, and a Wire-spacer carried by said Wire-spacer support, substantially as described.

3 9. In a machine for rolling wire-glass the combination with a forming-table and a distributing-roll movable from end to end of said table of a support for the distributing-roll extending from the posterior edge of the J forming-table, a vertically-adjustable Wireclamp at the posterior edge of said table, and a vertically-adjustable Wire-spacer mounted to move in unison with the distributing-roll, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set 5 my hand.

CLEON H. TON-DEUR. Witnesses:

W. R. J ENNINGS, JOHN REED. 

